Sexy tractor

AND I AM Back!
Go me!

I really don't know that I would call tractors sexy per se, but anything that is weathered, used and still functional is!  <--Yes, that could be me I'm describing!  

Just a few photos of a weathered Ford tractor that caught my eye.

Speaking of eyes...the old Ford is looking pretty wide-eyed from the front:

Still showing the brand on one side:

But the other side...not so much!

If this tractor could talk, I wonder what he'd say!

I'm feeling like my camera and I need to rekindle our old flame, so I am hoping to bring more randomness from behind the glass real soon!

5211-24 through 26

So, I'll admit it....I'm officially a horrible blogger!
I mean, it's bad when you cannot even post once per week.

I seriously don't know why my interest in blogging has not been there. I have gone back to older posts to see what used to excite me enough to blog about...and I loved some of those posts that really were for no other reason but for me to read.

I think blogging has gotten to the point of worrying about who is going to read my posts or how many people are following my blog to see if what I say is interesting...That's really not why I even began blogging in the first place! Why do we as humans get so caught up in what others think?  *sigh*


I want to start blogging again for one person and one person only: ME! If anyone else reads it, well, that's okay, but I'm going to vow to quit worrying about such things!

NOW, for the real post...the last three weeks' 52 Week Project photos.
Each one of these photos have been for challenges on the 52 week Project blog. These have been so much fun and a nice change of pace from just trying to think of a new idea each week.

This was for the Message Challenge

And this one was the Dad Challenge

And this week's challenge is Multiplicity!

I hope to be back before mid July with more. :)

The Chalkboard Wall

So back to this monster chalkboard wall.  I must share this awesome work from these two budding artists - This is exactly why I thought painting them a huge chalkboard in their playroom would be better than any toy I could buy them at Wal-Mart! 

These two are so gifted and our family has encouraged them in every way with music, art, and their schoolwork.  (You may recall Joe's Elvis impersonations...he's sort of famous for it locally). We are very proud of them and are enjoying watching them blossom into wonderful little dudes!

I hate to admit this but I erased this entire wall so I could set up my Week 23 shot. They were cool with it though.  This mural has been up for many months, so once my little project was over and erased, I'm sure they started a new masterpiece. 

 

I love the little details they have included.  Joe (the older one in white) has his stuff on the left and Jake's is on the right.  They are so clever, they traced the shape of the guitar from a real guitar!

The only part of the wall that I was not allowed to erase was "Crazy Man" which is Jake's piece.  He said he really liked "Crazy Man" and really didn't want to lose him.  (obviously, Cousin Kim obliged!)  

Excuse the quality of this one, it was a quick phone shot.  

I totally recommend the chalkboard wall - I would however use a wall that doesn't have as much texture as their sheetrock.  I purchased my paint at Home Depot and went through almost 2 quarts after a good primer (there was a painted mural on the wall). 

I gave them each a box of white chalk and colored chalk and I think it has really inspired their creativity on a large scale. 

5211-23 - Inspired Image challenge

This is a challenge I've had on my mind for awhile - well, since Jen posted her week 3 photo waaaaaaaaay back in January. (which feels like it was just yesterday, by the way!)
Here it is:

Isn't she just beautiful!?  

Yes, I knew you would agree.  Well, although I have never met her in real life, I think we'd be great friends.  :)
I have linked up her blog, but she is going private for the summer so she can journal for herself.
Anyway, this photo has been in my mind and I knew I wanted to do something similar utilizing the huge chalkboard wall that I painted as a gift to Joe & Jake for Christmas. {sidenote: They are my young cousins who have a huge playroom and tons of stuff - so I thought this would be a clever gift for them. I was right.. I'll post some of their artwork in another blogpost.}

 Here is my shot which was completely inspired by Jen's:

Join the challenge this week - you don't have to participate in all 52 weeks, just be inspired to take some photos! :) Here are more details: 52 Week Project.

In other news...I got some wonderful happy mail today!!!  It may or may not be something from >here<

5211-22 - Creative light challenge

I so excited about the new twist over at 52 Week Project!  I was needing a boost of inspiration and when Jill contacted me about an idea I was thrilled!  She proposed to try some weekly challenges for the self-portraits during June AND she wanted to guest post.  {Um, Bonus!}

Jill already inspires me with her fitness infused photos each week so I knew her challenges would be a hit.

The first post went live on Friday.
Challenge: Use lighting to express yourself.

Here is mine...

Taken with natural light through side and front windows in a dark room. The bonus when I looked through the 2-3 frames I took was the little cast shadow from the bill of the cap (borrowed my little cousin Jake. Yes, he is super cool.) 

Go check out the challenge and see the fun examples Jill has posted over at the 52 Week Project site and in the Flickr Group. 

This would be a good time to try out your own self-portrait. 

5211-21

I usually am not a dress or skirt person (especially when my legs are so transparent looking)
but I do dig a good twirly skirt. Don't you?

Saw this quote - probably on Pinterest - and thought it fitting:

When in doubt, twirl. -Anonymous

I love having no inhibition and feeling free like a kid and spinning and twirling
will definitely make you feel that way!  

Try it! 

WARNING: it will also make you dizzy and possibly nauseous so twirl with care! ;)

There will be a little something new over at the 52 Week Project site. Just some new inspiration for the weekly challenges.  If you are not participating, I urge you to give it a try for kicks and giggles.  There will be a wonderfully driven and inspiring guest blog post so I'm super excited to see her ideas. 

Friday.

Morning.

Be there:

52 Week Project

5211-20

Well you knew this week would include the most precious little sweetheart ever!

Excuse me but I am still high on Carlee Love! 

This was just a few hours after she was born and she already has me wrapped around her finger!

Carlee is here!!!

Thursday changed our lives forever!

I really don't know what else I can say except to show you:

I present Carlee Claire Whitten

 

Words cannot begin to describe how perfect she is. SERIOUSLY....I really am not just being biased because she is part of the family.  She came out NOT looking like a newborn.
Don't you agree????

Carlee's stats:
Born 8:23 AM, Thursday, May 12, 2011 @ White River Medical Center in Batesville, AR
HERE is the link to her hospital pictures: WRMC Babies
Dr. Keith Harville
She weighed 7 pounds 2.2 ounces
She was 18.75 inches long
She has fuzzy blondish hair with a hint of strawberry
Long fingers
A sweet little dimple when she purses her lips
Beautiful dark eyes
She can poop with the best of them!  (I know TMI, but it's for posterity's sake) ;)
Amy (her mom) had a c-section and although sore and exhausted is doing well.
She already has her Daddy wrapped around her little finger!

If you have followed my blog at all you may remember me posting about Case Lee Whitten, who would be 5 years old this summer. I know Case is watching his little sister from heaven and will be her guardian angel.

It's been a rough few years on my stepson and DIL, Cody and Amy after losing Case at 5 days old with a serious and rare genetic disorder, but the amount of prayers that have been lifted for them is probably not measurable on this Earth.
 
I honestly had no doubt that God would make this child completely perfect and I am so full of pure JOY that Carlee has made her debut and all apprehension that our family and friends had completely melted away Thursday morning when this blessing arrived.

I just give thanks to the Lord for his mercy and rich blessings on our family for allowing us to spend many years to come with our angel on Earth, Carlee Claire Whitten.

5211-19 Happy Mother's Day!!

You knew I would do my self portrait this week with my mom of course!

I decided to do something a little different and non-traditional this time.

 I am truly blessed with a wonderful mother! Her unconditional love for me is amazing!

Happy Mother's Day to you one and all. Since I am not a "real" biological mother but have had quite a hand in raising stepchildren, I leave you with this wonderful poem I found. I truly feel these words!

Not flesh of my flesh,
nor bone of my bone,
but still miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute,
you didn't grown under my heart - but in it.

5211-17 & 18

Well, once again I have neglected to post. :(

Our weather has been totally crazy with storms, floods, tornadoes and such and ironically my Week 17 pic was a capture of an oncoming storm and my little cousins and I doing a little acting!  We were fortunate right where we live, but others around...not so much. I pray that our storm season is nearing the end for the year!  Those tornadoes in Alabama are truly sickening. I also pray for those being affected by the flooding rivers. The Mississippi is expected to crest in the next several days and it is heartbreaking how many people have had to leave their homes and belongings behind.  

I guess this photo will also remind me of what has occurred during the Spring of 2011.

Last week's photo was just the typical bathroom mirror shot with a little fun post-editing. I think this particular editing utilized Coffee Shop Photography blog action. {Have I mentioned lately how much I love her actions? Well, I do!}

If I don't get back Sunday, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to you all!!!